Better Treatment For Elmhurst Mariano's?

ELMHURST, IL – A lawyer told the Elmhurst City Council on Monday that the city is giving better treatment to Mariano's grocery store than to his client with a coming beautification project.

Attorney Bruce Kelsey said the city's proposed left-turn lane for Mariano's would create a choke point for traffic and safety issues.

He represents Neil Juhn, who owns the property at 707 N. York St. That building is part of a bigger shopping center across from Mariano's.

The project plan, Kelsey said, unfairly treats his client.

"The traffic studies reflect that there are triple the number of accidents coming out of Mariano's as opposed to Mr. Juhn's," Kelsey said.

The situation would be worsened for those using the new left-turn lane.

"It will also become a choke point for those people going northbound on York Road who just passed the stop-and-go light at Belden (Avenue)," he said. "I would hope you would look at design features and look at safety issues, as opposed to just beautification issues."

Mayor Scott Levin said the City Council does not immediately respond to public comments.

In January, the city revealed details about the North York project.